Though the Canadian inventory market has seen a robust rally over the past three years, should you’re planning contemporary investments for the subsequent cycle, it could be time to focus much less on noise and extra on enterprise energy. Some corporations are rising sooner, enhancing margins, and constructing visibility effectively past the subsequent quarter or yr.
On this article, I’ll spotlight three prime Canadian shares for 2026 that you could confidently contemplate shopping for should you’re investing $5,000 and seeking to construct wealth over time.
Aritzia inventory
As shopper spending step by step normalizes with easing rates of interest, let’s begin with Aritzia (TSX:ATZ), a Canadian model that continues to win prospects throughout borders and channels. This Vancouver-headquartered attire retailer operates greater than 130 boutiques throughout Canada and the US, alongside a fast-growing on-line platform. ATZ inventory is at present buying and selling at $116.25 per share and carries a market cap of about $13.4 billion.
During the last yr, its shares have jumped greater than 116%, backed by accelerating demand for its merchandise, margin enlargement, and strengthening fundamentals. Within the second quarter of its fiscal yr 2026 (three months led to August 2025), Aritzia’s income surged practically 32% YoY (year-over-year) to $812 million with the assistance of double-digit comparable gross sales beneficial properties throughout all areas. The corporate’s income in the US climbed over 40% YoY, exhibiting rising model consciousness.
On the profitability facet, its adjusted EBITDA (earnings earlier than curiosity, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) additionally greater than doubled within the newest quarter as margins expanded and prices had been higher managed.
Furthermore, its give attention to boutique enlargement, digital progress, and deeper penetration in the US makes Aritzia a stable Canadian inventory for 2026.
Enerflex inventory
After shopper progress, let’s have a look at Enerflex (TSX:EFX), an power infrastructure agency that might add stability to your portfolio by way of its dependable money stream and long-term visibility. Past power infrastructure, it additionally offers compression and engineered methods options throughout international markets. EFX inventory now trades at $21.18 per share with a market cap of roughly $2.6 billion, and gives a dividend yield of about 0.8%.
Apparently, Enerflex inventory has gained roughly 114% over the seven months as its earnings momentum and stability sheet energy proceed to enhance. Within the third quarter of 2025, the corporate delivered file adjusted EBITDA of US$145 million, supported by robust mission execution and value financial savings. For the quarter, its return on capital employed improved to 16.9% with the assistance of upper profitability and decrease internet debt.
For the long term, Enerflex’s backlog ranges of about US$1.1 billion in engineered methods and US$1.4 billion in power infrastructure present stable visibility into future income, making this top-of-the-line Canadian shares to purchase in 2026 for progress and earnings.
Aecon inventory
To spherical out the record, let’s have a look at Aecon Group (TSX:ARE), a Toronto-based infrastructure agency that might offer you publicity to multi-year tasks tied to long-term spending tendencies. As a development and infrastructure growth firm, it serves private and non-private sector shoppers throughout Canada and the US. At present, ARE inventory trades close to $32.11 per share with a market cap of about $2 billion. At this market worth, it additionally gives a quarterly dividend with an annualized yield near 2.4%.
Aecon inventory has delivered a robust 250% return over the past three years as its execution improved, serving to it regain traders’ confidence. Within the September 2025 quarter, the corporate’s income climbed practically 20% YoY, pushed by greater exercise in civil, utility, and transportation infrastructure. Whereas its margins are nonetheless in restoration mode, current sequential enhancements within the agency’s earnings level to its stabilizing operations.
With governments persevering with to spend money on large-scale infrastructure and Aecon’s concessions mannequin including recurring earnings, this prime Canadian inventory gives a steadier progress profile that might aid you get robust returns in 2026 and past.
